Turkish warplanes bombed ten Kurdish villages in northern Iraq on Sunday in what has been described as Turkey’s most aggressive action against Kurdish rebels in years. Turkey’s military chief said the United States gave the go-ahead for the attacks and opened Iraqi airspace for the bombing raid. Turkish ground forces continue to shell areas of northern Iraq in its fight against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to continue attacks on northern Iraq.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan: “Our government is determined to use effectively every kind of instrument (in the fight against terrorism) — political, military, diplomatic, social and economic. We will continue to wage this battle for our nation’s unity and peace, both inside and outside Turkey.”

Turkey has massed up to 100,000 troops, backed by tanks, artillery and military aircraft, along the Iraq border. The Iraqi foreign ministry said the Turkish bombing raids destroyed hospitals, schools and bridges.